Rose plant named ‘Evera 168’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘Evera 168’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaflets; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large double light pink-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Evera 168’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a potted Rose, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Evera 168’.

The new Rose is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fåborg, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new potted Rose varieties with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 1, 2004 of a proprietary Rose selection identified as code number 03-0176, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed Rose selection, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Evera 168 was discovered and selected by the Inventor in on Jun. 20, 2004 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Fåborg, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose by cuttings at Fåborg, Denmark since Oct. 20, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evera 168’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Evera 168’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaflets.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large double light pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         plant habit.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Evera 134, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,030. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fåborg, Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Evera 134 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose had more petals per flower than plants         of the cultivar Evera 134.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose had fewer stamens per flower than         plants of the cultivar Evera 134.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Evera 134 differed in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rose.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Evera 168’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Evera 168’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in Fåborg, Denmark, in a glass-covered greenhouse and under commercial production practices. Plants were pinched one time and were about 12 to 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar Evera 168. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified as code number 03-0176, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Rosa hybrida,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to twelve days at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month at 24°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Growth habit.—Moderate to low vigor. Freely branching habit;             about three lateral branches develop from the pinching;             dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm to 24 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm to 20 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B. Thorns: Density: About five per linear cm. Shape:             Triangular with sharp acuminate apices. Height: About 3 mm             to 6 mm. Diameter, at base: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Color,             immature: Close to 154B. Color, mature: Close to 154B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with three to five leaflets             per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 1.8 cm to 3.4 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm to 2.8 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 1.4 cm to 2.2 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Orbicular to ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Truncate to obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Biserrulate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             147A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Leaf petiole length: About 8 mm to 1.5 cm. Leaflet             petiole length: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Leaf petiole diameter:             About 1 mm. Leaflet petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Leaf             petiole texture, upper surface: Rough. Leaf petiole texture,             lower surface: Smooth. Leaflet petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth. Leaf and leaflet petiole color,             upper surface: Darker than 137A. Leaf and leaflet petiole             color, lower surface: Close to 143A to 143B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity: Two per leaf. Length: About 5 mm to             8 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Leathery. Color, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double light pink-colored             flowers with numerous petals. Consistently symmetrical             rosette flowers. Flowers borne singly on erect and strong             peduncles; one terminal flower per lateral branch. Flowers             persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; typical of Rosa.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: Close to             137C.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 80 to 100 per flower.             Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to N155D with a pink tint. When opening, lower surface:             Close to N155C with a pink tint. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Lighter than 49D; with development, towards             the margins, close to 145B to 145C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About             2.2 cm to 2.7 cm. Width: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Linear             to lanceolate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C. Fully             opened, upper surface: close to 137C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 143A.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong, but flexible. Aspect: Mostly             erect. Length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 50 per flower.             Anther length: about 2 mm to 4 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 200A to 200B. Filament color: Close             to 154C to 154D. Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils:             Quantity: About 50 per flower. Pistil length: About 2 mm to             4 mm. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Style color: Close to 154D. Receptacle shape: Cup             to funnel-shaped. Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle             diameter: About 7 mm. Receptacle texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Receptacle color: Close to 144A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit             production has not been observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Roses. 

1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘Evera 168’ as illustrated and described. 